Day 44 – Q 2.What are blizzards? How do they get originated? How are they different from avalanches? Discuss. 

2. What are blizzards? How do they get originated? How are they different from avalanches? Discuss. 

बर्फानी तूफान क्या हैं? उनकी उत्पत्ति कैसे होती है? वे हिमस्खलन से कैसे अलग हैं? चर्चा करें।

Introduction:

A blizzard is a severe snowstorm with strong and powerful winds in excess of 35 mph for more than 3 hours and visibility of less than a 1/4 mile. During a blizzard, the temperature is often below 0 degrees, because of this frostbite and hypothermia are common.

Body

Origination of blizzards:

• Cold air (below freezing):  In order for there to be snowfall, the air temperature both up in the clouds and down at ground level must be cold. If the air temperature is warm near the ground, the snow will melt before the reaches the ground causing rain instead. 
• Moisture: This is known as water vapour. An excellent source of water vapour is when the air must blow across a large body of water, such as the ocean. As the airs blows over the water, some water is evaporated into the air. This is water vapour.
• Warm, rising air: Warm air must rise over cold air in order for a blizzard to form. This can happen in two ways. The wind can pull warm air from the equator towards the poles, and cold air from the poles towards the equator. When warm and cold air meet, a front is formed which results in precipitation. If warm air rises up a mountaintop it can cool as it rises, forming clouds and blizzard snows.

Effects of Blizzards

• A blizzard has the ability to put a city into standby, sometimes even for days. It can make driving conditions impossible and results in kids not being able to get to school as well as adults not being able to get to work. This in turn means school and businesses close and people are housebound.
• Low air pressure during a blizzard can make breathing difficult for some people.
• Electrical wires can be damaged resulting in a loss of electricity to homes. People are left without the use of computers, TV’s, appliances, and lights.
• Blizzards are life threatening and people have lost their lives because of them.
• 8. Blizzards hurt the economy as businesses lose money when people can’t get to work.
• 9. When transport routes and shops close during a blizzard there is a chance of food and water scarcity if the blizzard lasts for an extended period of time.

Conclusion

Under the effects of climate change, mountainous regions across globe are undergoing fast and well-perceptible evolutions, which are attracting the growing attention of people, scientists and managers. To cope better with the hazards and vulnerabilities specific targets and long term plans are must.